TERTIARY TEACHERS’ USE OF DIGITAL TOOLS FOR BLENDED LEARNING IN THE 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

AYENI, JULIANAH OLUKEMI AYENI, JULIANAH OLUKEMI; JULIUS, DEBORAH N JULIUS, DEBORAH N; MKPA, NNENNA. D. MKPA, NNENNA. D.

AYENI, JULIANAH OLUKEMI Department of Curriculum and Teacher Education, Abia State University
JULIUS, DEBORAH N Department of Administration and Planning
MKPA, NNENNA. D. Department of Psychological Foundation, Faculty of Education, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria

Keywords: Tertiary Teachers, Digital Tools, Blended Learning, Attitudes, Challenges

Abstract

The study investigated the use of digital tools for blended learning among tertiary teachers in the 21^st century education in Abia State. Four research questions guided the study and three hypotheses formulated. Data were collected from the federal, state and private institutions. The population of the study was 267 academic staff from the Faculties of Education with a sample size of 110 using convenience sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a 4-section questionnaire developed by the researchers. Data were analyzed using percentages, mean and standard deviation for the research questions, while t-test was used to test the hypotheses. The study revealed that digital tools are rarely used by tertiary teachers, but social media being the most popular with a percentage of 50.9 at the frequency of 56, followed Projector 32(29.1%), PowerPoint 30(27.3%), Google Meet and Zoom 17(15.5%). The attitudes of teachers towards the use of digital tools in blended learning showed a grand mean of 2.44 to the negative statements indicating positive attitudes while the challenges showed a grand mean of 3.70. The major challenge revealed teachers’ lack of technological know-how with a mean score of 4.80, followed by staff poor working condition (4.37), lack of power supply (4.35), poor internet connectivity (4.05), and lack of support from the faculty (3.34). It was recommended that tertiary teachers be exposed to periodic training on digital tools and their utilization for blended learning to keep them abreast of the latest technological advancement.